"He will be fine." Letting out a small chuckle, Christian began kissing her neck, maneuvering her further into the room where Josh had been painting.
"But, he—" Trying to pull her head from his hands, Addison stood on her tiptoes as she looked beyond his shoulder. She could see Josh talking to Darien, Darien sending her a sly smile and a limp wave when he saw her regard. "Christian." Frantically grabbing his face, Addison gave him several kisses, her fingers shaking as her gaze darted over his face quickly. "Please don’t do anything to Josh. He’s my brother…he…"
"Do not fret so, my love." Wiping away some of her tears with his thumbs, Christian sent her a warm smile. "I do not plan on hurting your brother." He planted a warm kiss on her lips, melting her frown and slowing her tears. "I just need to discuss something with him." Letting his nose rest against hers, his forehead planted against her own. "Go upstairs and get some rest for me."
Her voice came out soft as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her face against his perfectly starched collar, "Christian?"
"Yes?" Pulling away from her a little, he stroked her check again, examining the invisible path of his fingers on her skin.
"Josh is very important to me." A soft frown crept into her tender features as she stared at his blue tie. "Protect him for me, okay?" She grabbed the silk fabric, holding it gently in her fingers for a few seconds before letting go of it and tucking it back into his suit coat. "Not as Master Vallore, but as my husband." When she saw the calm expression on his face, she sent him a grin.
"Of course." Christian gave her a kiss before pulling away completely. His hands slowly trailed down her shoulders and her arms, gently taking hold of hers. "Come, I will take you upstairs."
As they walked to their room, Addison’s pace was slow. She held onto Christian's hand loosely, but his grip was firm and sure, as it always was. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door, his tanned fingers grabbing hold of the knob and opening it slowly.
He motioned for her to go in before him, calmly watching her. There was a slight slump to her shoulders, and her face was downcast. He slowly shut the door as she walked over to the bed and sat down. She took off her shoes and tossed them away from her before working on the buckle on her jeans.
"Do not be angry with me, my love." Christian stalked over to her, his gait so smooth there wasn’t a ripple of fault in his graceful steps. He sat down next to her, lightly cupping her cheek and turning her face toward him. "I have done nothing wrong."
"I’m sorry." Speaking in a babyish tone, Addison’s hands went to Christian’s suit coat, her fingers working on the buttons that held it shut. "I’m just worried about Josh." When she had the jacket open, her hands explored inside it before she slowly wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love him very much." She snuggled into his shirt as he embraced her. "I don’t want him to be a vampire, Christian."
Christian chuckled, pushing on her shoulders and pulling her head away from his chest. "Why not? What is wrong with being a vampire?"
"Nothing." Addison laughed as she jumped further onto the bed and crawled on her hands and knees to the middle of it. "I just don’t think he’d make a good elite. Josh doesn’t want to be one, either. He doesn’t like killing." She pulled off her socks and tossed them to the floor, now sitting in her sweater and panties. Her voice lost its seriousness now, a small pout to her lip as she spoke in a cooing, flirty tone, "Christian?"
"Yes?" He slowly moved up her legs. His movements were teasing as was the downcast view of his face and the sexiness of his dark brow kissing his icy eyes.
"I don’t make a good vampire either, do I?" Her eyes were glued on his as he scaled up her body, his face now hovering near hers.
"You make an excellent vampire."
"Even though I can’t hunt?"
"You are a mate. It’s your role to be my pampered queen, not my hunter." He stroked the side of her face as he gazed lovingly into it. Then, he spoke to speak in Aerolin, and even though she couldn’t understand it, she loved hearing it. It’s words were beautiful, and when given life by Christian’s velvety voice, each one made Addison melt.
"Forever in my arms you shall lie, bathed by the healing light of my love and sustained by the liquid nectar of my kisses. I shall care for you like my treasure—breakable, fragile, and priceless." He looked into her mesmerized eyes, her lips partially open and her face reflecting her great love for him. "My hands will be the only to touch you, the only to feed you. All you will ever need is me. My love for you is like the heavens, immeasurable and eternal."
Addison grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck and repeating his last line in her own language, "My love for you is like the heavens, immeasurable and eternal."
A small, very soft laugh escaped Christian’s lips as he gazed into her eyes. His mouth was open ever so slightly, revealing his tongue, which was making a slow swipe between his front teeth as he stared at her neck. "Eternity. My gift to you that will let me cherish you through a million lifetimes."
His hands moved inside her shirt, his fingers feeling the sticky warmth of her skin. His mouth went to hers for a few seconds before wandering down to her neck.
Opening her eyes, Addison gazed up at the intricate design on the ceiling above her head, her thoughts switching back to Josh. "Christian?" Christian didn’t answer, instead he shoved his hand under her bra, grabbing ahold of her breast. "Christian?" His kisses moved back to her lips, silencing her. Her antsy hands reached up to his face and pulled it away from her own. "What—”
He gave her one more kiss then pointed to his neck. "Enough." His brow lowered, intensifying the anger that was creeping into his face. "I do not wish to speak of Josh anymore." He spoke in a deeper voice than normal, and she could sense his annoyance. "Now, I want a kiss from my love."
Addison nodded her head quickly, licking her lips as she stared at his neck. Bending closer, Christian let her mouth rest on his skin. She slowly opened, the wetness from inside warming his skin.
Christian smiled when he felt her bite, his hands running up and down her stomach as they lingered inside her shirt. They found a resting place on her hips, the pleasure making him take a firmer grip as he let out a small sigh.
His grasp loosened when she went limp in his arms, the effect of his godly blood making her fall asleep. Pulling away from her, he looked down at her slumbering face, her lips slightly parted and her breath slowed. His blood painted her lips a dark red, a trail of it dripping from the corner and running down the steep slope of her chin.
Leaning forward, he placed his tongue on her neck, slowly moving upward and following the trail of blood until it led him to her lips, "Goodnight, my love." He kissed her mouth, tasting his own blood that lingered there. When he kissed her cheek, his bloody lips left their mark on her skin.
* * * *
After leaving Addison, Christian met Josh and Darien in the sitting room. The sun was setting now, the whole room filled with fading light. It was decorated in soft whites, giant windows reaching up to the almost endless ceiling. The calm breeze blew the curtains around slightly, and the whole place seemed serene.
Darien was talking to Josh about Addison, both of them getting along well. They stopped talking when Christian entered, both of their gazes falling upon him. Josh’s nervousness was apparent as he fidgeted with his fingers. Christian sat down on the chair near the couch on which they were sitting.
"Is the princess asleep?" Darien chuckled, scanning Christian’s annoyed face.
"Yes." Christian put his hand to his brow, letting it sit there for a few seconds. Sitting up straighter, he looked over at Josh, the ice in his stare making it hard for Josh to sit still. "So, let’s discuss your future, Josh. Would you like to become part of my family?"
Josh beamed as he sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. "I would love to. I mean…" He ran a trembling hand through his hair as he stumbled with his words. "I would be honored to."
"Good." Christian nodded his hea
d slowly. "After your initiation as a scavenger, you will join Darien and I on a hunt. If you pass that test, then you will be initiated as an elite."
"Wow!" Josh cheered, punching his open palm with his fist. "I can’t believe this! You won’t regret this Master, I promise. I will be a great hunter."
"That is my hope." Christian looked to Darien, an extremely annoyed expression on his face. "But," his eyes turned back to Josh, carrying a more friendly vibe as he tried to shake off his sour mood, "I would like to keep this a secret from your sister until after you are an elite. You know how she can be." He chuckled. "Addison is very emotional about such things."
"Yeah." Josh let out a nervous laugh, clasping his hands together tightly as he tried to sound calm. "Addison has always been like that. She’d make a great mother. She’s always had that sweet, nurturing quality to her."
"I assume she told you she wants a child."
"Yes. She told me you told her she could have one."
"I told her maybe." Christian sat back in his chair. "So, has she told you anything about the time she spent with Monroe?"
"Not really." Josh sighed, running his hand slowly through his black hair. "She just said he was in love with her and about how she was worried you would be angry at her for not killing him. Addison doesn’t like to kill."
"Yes, I know." The side of Christian’s lips turned up slightly, an evil smirk slowly appearing on his face. "But that is of no importance." Exhaling loudly, he looked down at his wedding ring, turning it around his finger. "I will always protect her. It is the role of the elite, to protect our mates." His eyes narrowed. "All she will ever need is me."
Josh looked slightly uncomfortable, wiping his face a few times as he changed his position. His eyes were downcast as he bit his lip nervously, letting it slowly roll out from under his front teeth a few times.
"And when I want her to kill, she will." Christian looked back up at Josh, his smile growing when he saw fear. "But you are going to become one of my elites. You will learn to love the hunt."
"Y-yeah." Laughing nervously, Josh looked at Christian and then at Darien, who was sending him an evil grin.
"Do not speak of hunting to Addison. She doesn’t need to know how her food is…" Christian chuckled as his eyes met with Darien’s devilish ones. "Handled."
"You ready to do some hunting…" Darien shoved Josh playfully, and Josh rubbed his arm. "Omega?"
Josh was going to say something, but before he knew it, Christian was sitting next to him on the couch.
Grabbing his shoulders, Christian shoved Josh back into the cushions and sank his fangs into warm flesh. Josh gritted his teeth. The first bite always hurt, but Josh wasn’t going to let any of his distress show. He was going to be a man, a man worthy of becoming one of Christian’s elite vampires.
Chapter Four
Hunting Lessons
Holding onto the side of a wall, Josh was standing behind Christian and Darien. Samson was standing ahead of them. The small band of vampires was out on a hunt, watching a group of young girls hanging around a fire, having a good time with friends. They were all drinking, loud music coming out of the speakers of a nearby car.
The local park was a little ways from the city and had a few campsites open to the public. It was the night after Josh’s initiation as a scavenger. Tonight he would be judged on whether or not he would get the illustrious second bite that would turn him into one of Christian’s elites.
Darien smacked Josh hard in the back, emitting an evil chuckle. "Just grab one of the ladies and toss her in the back of the van. You can sneak a taste if you want, but save your appetite for dinner."
"Your goal is two." Samson’s cat-like gaze was scanning the crowd quickly. "It may look hard at first, but it will get easier once you get the hang of it." He laughed as he watched Christian and Darien run out of the shadows and toward the crowd. "Here we go."
Samson ran out of his hiding place, seizing two women and quickly tying them up with some rope from his back pocket. He pulled them by the hair over to the van, tossing them inside. Josh tried to snatch some of the girls running away, but was having a hard time doing so.
"Try the car over there." As he ran past, Darien bumped forcefully into Josh, pointing with his head in the direction of a nearby vehicle.
"Thanks." Josh grabbed a nearby chair and ran over. He peered inside and saw two girls hiding inside, their scared eyes watching him intensely as they cowered under the seats.
Even though his conscience was telling him to back away and take pity on them, he dismissed it. He had always wanted to become a vampire. He envied everything about them—their strength, immortality, and especially, their power. He wanted it all.
Josh’s face filled with an evil smile, a sinister laugh escaping his lips as he hoisted the chair into the air. Then, he brought it down in a quick motion, shattering the window. The girls’ screams became louder now that the glass was broken. He reached his hand inside the broken window and unlocked the door.
Josh grabbed at the girls. They were trying to escape from the other side, but Darien was standing there. He slammed his palms against the closed window and peered inside, laughing as he bared his fangs.
Josh managed to grab one and pull her out, but was having a hard time getting her tied up or even over to the van. She kicked and screamed, and Josh struggled to keep a hold on her as he drug her along. Samson, who had just shoved two girls inside the vehicle saw Josh’s distress and helped him. He grabbed the girl by her shirt and slammed her head into the side of the van, knocking her out before tossing her inside.
Josh headed back toward the car, but on his way over, he saw a girl run past. He ran after her, catching her by the back of the shirt and pulling her close to his chest. As he held her arms down, she tried to bite at him, putting up more of a struggle than the other had.
Josh winced as her teeth pierced his skin, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he yanked on her hair and pulled her head back, making her scream out in pain. Gritting his teeth, Josh struggled to get her over to the van, her feet dragging on the ground and leaving behind long lines in the dirt behind him.
Christian, who was leaning up against the vehicle with his arms crossed loosely over his chest, was watching Josh, a satisfied expression on his face as he chuckled. Hunting was one of Christian’s greatest joys in life. He waited until Josh made it over before he got in himself.
The other vampires were already inside, as well as all the frightened girls. There were about ten of them squished in the back, and the whole ride home was filled with the sound of their whines and cries to be released.
The noise didn’t bother the other vampires, but it did Josh. He was looking out the window and trying to block it out. Darien wasn’t helping, his teasing of the women making them wail louder. This seemed to please Darien, the more they screamed, the more aggressive he became.
They took the women back to the manor, herding them into a small room in the basement. The vampires were still mocking them, Samson grabbing one and holding her tightly to his chest. He had her pinned, taking a few bites at her neck, his laughter becoming louder as she belted out a few shrieks.
"Come on, Josh." Samson bared his fangs at Josh playfully, walking the woman over to him. "Take a taste of this one."
"Umm…" Josh looked into the girl’s terrified face. Her makeup smeared as she sobbed.
"Please…" Her eyes met his, her voice desperate and wet with her tears. "Don’t hurt me."
Josh stared at her for a few seconds then up at Samson’s cocky smile. "Okay." His smirk returned, and while Samson held her, Josh leaned close and bit her neck. Being a scavenger, he just took a small taste, his thirst for blood not as strong as the elites.
"Go to the Master." Samson motioned with his head toward Christian, who was harassing a few of the girls with Darien on the other side of the room.
Christian held two women, one in each arm. He held a knife to one’s neck and was speaking softly in the ear of t
he other. Even though Josh couldn’t hear what Christian was saying, he knew it wasn’t anything nice.
The women trembled in his arms. Christian pushed the knife deeper. His tongue peeked teasingly out of his lips as he watched the slow trickle of blood that escaped from under the blade. Christian slowly licked his lips.
The woman started screaming loudly, the sound piercing his ears and making him angry. He lifted one of his legs and swiftly kicked the other woman from his arms, sending her flying away from him and landing face first onto the uneven stone floor.
Then, he focused his attention on the woman still in his arms, pulling the knife away from her neck and yanking on her hair to tilt her head back. He licked at the blood from the wound a few times before going in for a bigger taste and biting angrily at her throat.
Josh stood a few feet away from Christian, watching him kill. He waited for Christian to look up at him before speaking, the excitement clearly showing on his face, "So, how’d I do Master? Did I pass?"
"Yes." Christian’s face was slightly downcast as he nodded, his brow lowered over his icy eyes, giving a devilish glow to his handsome features as he took in a few deep, quick breaths. He shoved the woman in his arms away from him, her dead body falling limply to the ground. He wiped some of the blood that clung to his lips before pulling on Josh’s shirt and yanking him closer. "Welcome to the family."
He pulled Josh along, slamming him up against the wall and knocking the wind out of him. There was a pained expression on Josh’s face as he closed his eyes and tried not to scream out in pain. Christian went for his neck, not so gently. He was still fired up from the hunt.
Digging his fingers into Josh’s shoulders, Christian could feel him wiggle and try to break free of his iron grip. This made Christian bite him several more times and intentionally cause Josh pain for his resistance. He didn’t let go until he felt Josh’s body go limp under his hands.
Pulling away, Christian gave him one final shove into the wall before stepping back. Josh's head slammed into it, igniting a painful yelp as he slumped slowly to the floor.
Seed of the Master (Christian’s Kisses Book 2) Page 4
